Configurable intelligent I/O expander system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus in a vehicular telemetry system for an intelligent I/O expander. The intelligent I/O expander may be configured in an active mode or a passive mode. A vehicular telemetry hardware system may be configured in a passive serial control mode or an active serial control mode. The intelligent I/O expander capable of adding additional device to the vehicular telemetry system.

This application Ser. No. 14/121,847 filed on Oct. 24, 2014 is acontinuation application and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/506,478 filed Apr. 23, 2012 and entitled“Configurable Intelligent I/O Expansion System”.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus forapplication in vehicular telemetry systems. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to configurable intelligent I/O (input/output)expansion of peripheral devices and services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicular Telemetry systems are known in the prior art.

United States published patent application 2004/0111191 to Jeroen et alis directed to a marine telematics system comprising a satcom unit on aboat, a user interface for the satcom unit, a web-based user interfacefor the telematics system, and a land-based center of operations. Theland-based center of operations receives signals from the satcom unit onthe boat about the location of the boat and sensor responses todetectable events. The marine telematics system is customizable througha web-based interface, allowing boat owners to provide information andinstructions to the land-based center of operations for handlingparticular situations that may arise while the boat is in use or atdock. The web-based interface further allows boat owners to plan voyagesby setting series of waypoints, and the land-based center of operationsmay assist the boat owners by providing feedback during their voyagesbased on the waypoint information previously provided by the boatowners. The marine telematics system of the invention allows users toremotely monitor the location of boats and events detected on boats, andto remotely activate equipment on boats.

United States published patent application 2001/0016789 to Staiger isdirected to an electronic control system for controlling the function ofa processing system, especially for the use in an automotive vehicle,wherein the control system comprises a plurality of logical controlelements, each of which is especially adapted to perform special tasks,whereby each of the control elements is able to communicate with everyother control element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to aspects in a vehicular telemetrysystem and provides a new capability for configurable intelligent I/Oexpansion of peripherals, devices, sensors, and services.

According to a first broad aspect of the invention, there is anapparatus for a configurable intelligent telematic I/O expander system.The system includes a messaging interface for connecting to a privatebus, a configurable multi-device interface for connecting to a specificdevice, a microprocessor and memory for controlling said messaginginterface and said configurable multi-device interface. Themicroprocessor and memory capable of sensing the configurablemulti-device interface for self-configuring the I/O expander into one ofa passive mode or an active mode.

According to a second broad aspect of the invention, there is anapparatus for a configurable intelligent telematic system. The systemincludes a vehicular telemetry hardware system. The vehicular telemetryhardware system including a first microprocessor and first memorycapable of data logging and telecommunications, and an interface forconnecting to a private bus. At least one configurable intelligenttelematic I/O expander. The at least one configurable intelligenttelematic I/O expander including a messaging interface for connecting toa private bus, a configurable multi-device interface for connecting to aspecific device, a second microprocessor and second memory capable ofsensing the configurable multi-device interface for self configuring theI/O expander into one of a passive mode or an active mode.

According to a third broad aspect of the invention, there is anapparatus for a configurable intelligent telematic system. The systemincluding at least one server with application software, the servercapable of communicating messages over a network, at least one computercommunicating with the at least one server with application software, avehicular telemetry hardware system. The vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem including a first memory capable of data logging andtelecommunications, and an interface for connecting to a private bus. Atleast one configurable intelligent telematic I/O expander including amessaging interface for connecting to a private bus, a configurablemulti-device interface for connecting to a specific device, a secondmicroprocessor and second memory capable of sensing the configurablemulti-device interface for self configuring the I/O expander into apassive mode or an active mode.

According to a fourth broad aspect of the invention, there is a methodof initializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehicular telemetryhardware system. The method includes determine the I/O expander porttype, if serial, set serial type and passive expander mode. Ifauxiliaries, set auxiliaries type and active expander mode. Send messageand port type to vehicular telemetry hardware system. If serial, sendquery device message to I/O expander and receive device type. If devicetype is a first device type, set vehicular telemetry hardware system toactive serial control mode. If device type is a second device type, setvehicular telemetry hardware system to passive serial control mode. Ifauxiliaries, send message with monitoring characteristics to I/Oexpander.

When the I/O expander is in a passive mode, the microprocessor andmemory of the I/O expander capable of permitting data exchange betweenthe messaging interface and the configurable multi-device interface, andwhen the I/O expander is in an active mode, the microprocessor andmemory of the I/O expander capable of monitoring the configurablemulti-device interface and capable of sending messages to the messaginginterface upon detecting an event.

When the I/O expander is in a passive mode capable of sending a messageto the messaging interface with an I/O expander ID and serialindication.

When the I/O expander is in a passive mode, capable of receiving amessage from the messaging interface, converting the message, andsending a converted message to the configurable multi-device interface.

When the I/O expander is in a passive mode, capable of receiving amessage from the configurable multi-device interface, converting themessage, and sending a converted message to the messaging interface.

When the I/O expander is in a passive mode, capable of receiving anidentify device message from the messaging interface, converting theidentify device message, and sending a converted identify message to theconfigurable multi-device interface.

When the I/O expander is in a passive mode, capable of receiving adevice identification message from the configurable multi-deviceinterface, converting the device identification message, and sending aconverted identification message to the messaging interface.

When the I/O expander is in an active mode, capable of receiving fromthe messaging interface the monitoring characteristics.

In an embodiment of the invention, the monitoring characteristicsinclude threshold data, change data, and limit data for detecting anevent.

In an embodiment of the invention, including a specific device forinterfacing to the configurable multi-device interface and communicationwith the configurable intelligent I/O expander.

In an embodiment of the invention, the specific device is a serialdevice.

In an embodiment of the invention, the specific device is a satellitemodem device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the specific device is a globalpositioning device (GPS).

In an embodiment of the invention, the specific device is auxiliaries.The auxiliaries may be sensors.

In an embodiment of the invention, the interface for connecting to aprivate bus is a gateway. In another embodiment of the invention, theinterface connecting to a private bus is a common messaging interface.

In an embodiment of the invention, the interface for connecting to aprivate bus is a messaging interface, the private bus interfaces to themessaging interface of the vehicular telemetry hardware system and tothe messaging interface of at least one configurable intelligent I/Oexpander.

In an embodiment of the invention, the active mode capable of receivingfrom the vehicular telemetry hardware system over the private bus themonitoring characteristics.

In an embodiment of the invention, further including a specific devicefor interfacing to the configurable multi-device interface of each ofthe at least one configurable intelligent I/O expander for communicationover a multi-device bus between the specific device and the configurablemulti-device interface.

In an embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor and memory of thevehicular telemetry hardware system configured with logic to command andcontrol the satellite modem device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor and memory of thevehicular telemetry hardware system configured to pass messages with theglobal positioning device.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the configurableintelligent I/O expander is configured in a passive mode and thespecific device is a global positioning device.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the configurableintelligent I/O expander is configured in a passive mode and thespecific device is a satellite modem device.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the configurableintelligent I/O expander is configured in an active mode and thespecific device is auxiliaries. The auxiliaries may be AUX 1-4. Theauxiliaries may be AUX 5-8.

These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments areapparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the followingdetailed description of the non-limiting embodiments and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary non-limiting embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a high level diagrammatic view of a vehicular telemetrycommunication system;

FIG. 2 is diagrammatic view of an vehicular telemetry hardware systemincluding an on-board portion and a resident vehicular portion;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an intelligent I/O hardware expander;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the inventionillustrating a vehicular telemetry hardware system directlyinterconnected to a first intelligent I/O expander;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a series of interconnected intelligentI/O hardware expanders;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention illustrating a vehicular telemetry hardware system indirectlyinterconnected to a first intelligent I/O expander through a gateway;

FIG. 7 is a high level flowchart for initialization of an intelligentI/O expander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system for the case ofan I/O expander configured as a serial port type;

FIG. 8 is a high level flowchart for communication within the system forthe case of an I/O expander configured as a serial port type;

FIG. 9 is a high level flow chart for initialization of an intelligentI/O expander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system for the case ofan I/O expander configured as an auxiliaries port type and activeexpander mode;

FIG. 10 is a high level flow chart for communication within the systemfor the case of an I/O expander configured as an auxiliaries port typeand active expander mode;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of message communication over acommunications network between a server, vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem, and an intelligent I/O expander configured as a serial porttype, passive expander mode with a vehicular telemetry hardware systemactive serial control mode,

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of message communication over acommunications network between a server, vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem and an intelligent I/O expander configured as a serial type,passive expander mode with a vehicular telemetry hardware system passiveserial control mode;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of message communication over acommunications network between a server, vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem, and an intelligent I/O expander configured as an auxiliariestype, active expander mode, and receiving monitoring characteristics;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of message communication over acommunications network between a server, vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem, and an intelligent I/O expander configured as an auxiliariestype, active expander mode, sensing auxiliaries data; and

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of message communication over acommunications network between a server, vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem, resident vehicular portion with vehicle data and information,and an intelligent I/O expander with satellite communicationscapability.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be diagrammaticrepresentations of the exemplary non-limiting embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Telematic Communication System

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a high leveloverview of a telematic communication system. There is at least onevehicle generally indicated at 11. The vehicle 11 includes a vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 and a resident vehicular portion 42.Connected to the telemetry hardware system 30 is at least oneintelligent I/O expander 50.

The telematic communication system provides communication and exchangeof data, information, commands, and messages between the servers 19,computers 20, and vehicles 11. In one example, the communication 12 isto/from a satellite 13. The satellite 13 in turn communicates with aground-based system 15 connected to a computer network 18. In anotherexample, the communication 16 is to/from a cellular network 17 connectedto the computer network 18. In an embodiment of the invention,communication 16 to/from the cellular network 17 is facilitated by thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30. In another embodiment of theinvention, an intelligent I/O expander 50 facilitates communication 12to/from the satellite 13. Further examples of communication devicesinclude WiFi devices and BlueTooth devices.

Computer 20 and server 19 with application software communicate over thecomputer network 18. In an embodiment of the invention, the Checkmate™telematic application software runs on a server 19. Clients operating acomputer 20 communicate with the Checkmate™ application software runningon the server 19. Data, information, and commands may be sent andreceived over the telemetic communication system between the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30, intelligent I/O expander 50, and theserver 19. While the diagram illustrates s single server 19 and computer20, the invention may include a plurality of servers 19 and computers 20accessing the network 18.

In an embodiment of the invention, data and information may be sent fromthe vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 to the cellular network 17,to the computer network 18, and to the servers 19. Computers 20 mayaccess the data and information on the servers 19. Alternatively, data,information, and commands may be sent from the servers 19, to thenetwork 19, to the cellular network 17, and to the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30.

In another embodiment of the invention, data and information may be sentfrom vehicular telemetry hardware system to an intelligent I/O expander50, to an Iridum™ device, the satellite 13, the ground based station 15,the computer network 18, and to the servers 19. Computers 20 may accessdata and information on the servers 19. In another embodiment of theinvention, data, information, and commands may be sent from the servers19, to the computer network 18, the ground based station 15, thesatellite 13, an Iridum™ device, to an intelligent I/O expander 50, andto a vehicular telemetry hardware system.

Vehicular Telemetry Hardware System

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated avehicular telemetry hardware system generally indicated at 30. Theon-board portion generally includes: a DTE (data terminal equipment)telemetry microprocessor 31; a DCE (data communications equipment)wireless telemetry communications microprocessor 32; a GPS (globalpositioning system) module 33; an accelerometer 34; a non-volatile flashmemory 35; and provision for an OBD (on board diagnostics) interface 36for connection 43 and communicating with a vehicle networkcommunications bus 37.

The resident vehicular portion 42 generally includes: the vehiclenetwork communications bus 37; the ECM (electronic control module) 38;the PCM (power train control module) 40; the ECUs (electronic controlunits) 41; and other engine control/monitor computers andmicrocontrollers 39.

While the system is described as having an on-board portion 30 and aresident vehicular portion 42, it is also understood that the presentinvention could be a complete resident vehicular system or a completeon-board system.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor is interconnected with the OBDinterface 36 for communication with the vehicle network communicationsbus 37. The vehicle network communications bus 37 in turn connects forcommunication with the ECM 38, the engine control/monitor computers andmicrocontrollers 39, the PCM 40, and the ECU 41.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor has the ability through the OBDinterface 36 when connected to the vehicle network communications bus 37to monitor and receive vehicle data and information from the residentvehicular system components for further processing.

As a brief non-limiting example of vehicle data and information, thelist may include: VIN (vehicle identification number), current odometerreading, current speed, engine RPM, battery voltage, engine coolanttemperature, engine coolant level, accelerator peddle position, brakepeddle position, various manufacturer specific vehicle DTCs (diagnostictrouble codes), tire pressure, oil level, airbag status, seatbeltindication, emission control data, engine temperature, intake manifoldpressure, transmission data, braking information, and fuel level. It isfurther understood that the amount and type of vehicle data andinformation will change from manufacturer to manufacturer and evolvewith the introduction of additional vehicular technology.

Continuing now with the DTE telemetry microprocessor 31, it is furtherinterconnected for communication with the DCE wireless telemetrycommunications microprocessor 32. In an embodiment of the invention, anexample of the DCE wireless telemetry communications microprocessor 32is a Leon 100 commercially available from u-blox Corporation. The Leon100 provides mobile communications capability and functionality to thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 for sending and receiving datato/from a remote site 44. A remote site 44 could be another vehicle or aground based station. The ground-based station may include one or moreservers 19 connected through a computer network 18 (see FIG. 1). Inaddition, the ground-based station may include computer applicationsoftware for data acquisition, analysis, and sending/receiving commandsto/from the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 is also interconnected forcommunication to the GPS module 33. In an embodiment of the invention,an example of the GPS module 33 is a Neo-5 commercially available fromu-blox Corporation. The Neo-5 provides GPS receiver capability andfunctionality to the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 is further interconnected with anexternal non-volatile flash memory 35. In an embodiment of theinvention, an example of the flash memory 35 is a 32 MB non-volatileflash memory store commercially available from Atmel Corporation. Theflash memory 35 of the present invention is used for data logging.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 is further interconnected forcommunication with an accelerometer (34). An accelerometer (34) is adevice that measures the physical acceleration experienced by an object.Single and multi-axis models of accelerometers are available to detectthe magnitude and direction of the acceleration, or g-force, and thedevice may also be used to sense orientation, coordinate acceleration,vibration, shock, and falling.

In an embodiment of the invention, an example of a multi-axisaccelerometer (34) is the LIS302DL MEMS Motion Sensor commerciallyavailable from STMicroelectronics. The LIS302DL integrated circuit is anultra compact low-power three axes linear accelerometer that includes asensing element and an IC interface able to take the information fromthe sensing element and to provide the measured acceleration data toother devices, such as a DTE Telemetry Microprocessor (31), through anI2C/SPI (Inter-Integrated Circuit) (Serial Peripheral Interface) serialinterface. The LIS302DL integrated circuit has a user-selectable fullscale range of +−2 g and +−8 g, programmable thresholds, and is capableof measuring accelerations with an output data rate of 100 Hz or 400 Hz.

In an embodiment of the invention, the DTE telemetry microprocessor 31also includes an amount of internal flash memory for storing firmwarethat executes in part, the method of the present invention as well asother methods to operate and control the overall system. In addition,the microprocessor 31 and firmware log data, format messages, receivemessages, and convert or reformat messages. In an embodiment of theinvention, an example of a DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 is a PIC24Hmicrocontroller commercially available from Microchip Corporation.

The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 receives data and informationfrom the resident vehicular portion 42, the GPS module 33, theaccelerometer 43, and from configured intelligent I/O expanders 50. Thedata and information is stored in non-volatile flash memory 35 as a datalog. The data log may be further transmitted by the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 over the vehicular telemetry communication system tothe server 19 (see FIG. 1). The transmission may be controlled and setby the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 at pre-defined intervals.The transmission may also be triggered as a result of a significantevent such as an accident. The transmission may further be requested bya command sent from the application software running on the server 19.

Intelligent I/O Expander Hardware System

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated anintelligent I/O expander generally indicated at 50.

The intelligent I/O expander 50 includes a messaging interface 53 for aconnection to a private bus 55 (in an embodiment of the invention, theprivate bus 55 is a cable connection, or private cable). The private bus55 provides for connection to other intelligent I/O expanders (see FIG.5) as well as the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 (see FIG. 4).In an embodiment of the invention, the messaging interface 53 andprivate bus 55 is based upon a CAN bus. The messaging interface 53includes five conductors. There are two power conductors (12-24 volts),a ground conductor, a CAN High conductor, and a CAN Low conductor.

Messaging on the private bus 55 is based upon a frame consisting of andID and a varying number of data bytes. The ID portion may be 11 bits or29 bits and the data may be zero to eight bytes of data. Messages may besent over the private bus 55 when the bus is idle. The vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 and all intelligent I/O expanders 50connected to the private bus 55 see all messages by monitoring theprivate bus 55. A message may be received by either the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30, or a particular intelligent I/O expander50 based upon the ID contained in the frame. If the ID matches theparticular device, then the device receives the message. The dataportion of a message may contain data, information, or device commands.

In addition, the intelligent I/O expander 50 includes an configurablemulti-device interface 54. The configurable multi-device interface 54provides for connection to a multi-device bus 56 (in an embodiment ofthe invention, the multi-device bus 56 is a GeoTab™ intelligentconfiguring cable connection). The multi-device bus 56 in turn providesconnection to an interface 61 of a specific device 60. In an embodimentof the invention, the configurable multi-device interface 54 includesthirteen conductors. There are six conductors for bidirectional serialcommunication that include a data set ready (DSR) conductor, a clear tosend (CTS) conductor, a transmit data conductor (TX), a data terminalready (DTR) conductor, a request to send (RTS) conductor, and a receivedata (RX) conductor. This grouping of conductors is for connecting to afirst type of device, a device that requires serial communication. Thereare also four conductors, AUX1, AUX2, AUX3 and AUX4 for connectingauxiliary devices. This grouping of conductors is for connecting asecond type of device (non-serial communication device). Finally, thereare two ground conductors and one power conductor (12V). The conductorsin association with a GeoTab™ intelligent configuring cable are alsoused to establish the type of connection as a serial type or anauxiliaries type and identification of either AUX 1-4, or AUX 5-8.

The intelligent I/O expander hardware system 50 also includes amicroprocessor 51 and memory 52. The microprocessor 51 is also connectedto the messaging interface 53 and the configurable multi-deviceinterface 54. In an embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor 51is an LPC1756 32 bit ARM Cortec-M3 device with up to 512 kB of flashprogram memory and 64 kB SRAM. The LPC1756 also includes four UARTs, twoCAN 2.0B channels, a 12 bit analog to digital converter, and a 10 bitdigital to analog converter.

The microprocessor 51, CAN 2.0B controller, and firmware computerprogram stored in the flash program memory communicate with themessaging interface 53. The messaging interface 53 and private bus 55may be monitored by the Can 2.0B controller to send a message, ignore asent message, or receive a message. For example, a message may bereceived by an intelligent I/O expander 56 when the message ID matchesthe expander ID.

The intelligent I/O expander 50 may be operated as a serial type in apassive expander mode or as an auxiliaries type in an active expandermode based upon an established configuration of the device.

Passive Expander Mode

A message received by the intelligent I/O expander 50 over the privatebus 55 is converted or reformatted and sent from the intelligent I/Oexpander 50 to a first type of device connected to the configurablemulti-device interface 54. This is accomplished by the microprocessor 51and firmware computer program. This is a protocol conversion from theformat and structure of the message on the private bus 55 to therequirements of a specific device connected by the multi-device bus 56.

Alternatively, a message received by the intelligent I/O expander 50from a first type of device connected to the configurable multi-deviceinterface 54 is converted or reformatted by the microprocessor 51 andfirmware computer program, provided to the messaging interface 53, andsent over the private bus 55. This is a protocol conversion from theformat and structure of the message for the requirements of the specificdevice 60 to the format and structure required by the private bus 55.

In the passive expander mode, the data portion of the message is passedthrough the intelligent I/O expander 50. The data could be passedthrough from the messaging interface 53 to the configurable multi-deviceinterface 54, or from the configurable multi-device interface 54 to themessaging interface 53. The intelligent I/O expander 50 does not haveany logic or control over a device 60, it performs a protocol conversionbetween interfaces. An example protocol conversion is from a CAN bus(private bus 55) to a serial bus (multi-device bus 56).

Active Expander Mode

In addition to the passive expander mode for the first type of deviceand serial communication with the intelligent I/O expander 50, there isalso an active expander mode for a second type of device (auxiliariestype) and non-serial communication. The microprocessor 51 and firmwarecomputer program monitor the configurable multi-device interface 54 andauxiliaries connected to the configurable multi-device interface 54.Data and information may be buffered in memory 52. The intelligent I/Oexpander 50 has logic and monitoring capability over the device 60(auxiliaries). When certain monitoring characteristics are met, the dataand information may be formatted into a frame and a message containingthe data may be sent over the private bus 55 to the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30. Alternatively, the frame and message may be sent toanother intelligent I/O expander 50.

Devices

A number of difference specific devices 60 may be interfaced to theintelligent I/O expander 50. The configurable multi-device interface 54may accommodate a number of different devices 62 and interfaces 61through the configurable multi-device interface 54 and multi-device bus56. When a specific device 60 is connected to the intelligent I/Oexpander 50, messages, data, or signals may be communicated between thedevice 62 and the intelligent I/O expander 50.

For example, if the specific device 60 is a Garmin™ type of GPS device62 with the fleet management interface (FMI15 or FMI 45), the interface61 to the Garmin™ device may be connected to the configurablemulti-device interface 54 for communication with the intelligent I/Oexpander 50. In this case, the configurable multi-device interface hasone end and configuration to the configurable multi-device interface 54and a second end and configuration to the interface 61, in this example,a Garmin™ interface. A GeoTab™ intelligent configuring cable provides amapping of conductors between the interfaces.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 and firmware computer program of thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 includes the logic, commands, andprotocol instructions for communicating with a Garmin™ device 62 fordetecting the presence of the device. Otherwise, messages received bythe vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 for a Garmin™ device are senton the private bus 55 to an intelligent I/O expander that in turnconverts or reformats the message and sends it to the Garmin™ device.The Garmin™ device is an example where the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30 is in a passive control mode. Aside from very basic logic,commands, and protocol instructions, the firmware does not have a fulland complete set of logic and commands for the device. In this case, thefull and complete set of logic and commands for the device resides inthe Checkmate™ application software on the server 19. Initialization ofthe intelligent I/O expander 50 and the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30 associate the intelligent I/O expander with the passiveexpander mode and the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 with thepassive control mode and device type.

As another example, if the specific device 60 is an Iridium™ type ofsatellite communications device 62, the interface 61 to the Iridium™device 62 may also be interfaced to the configurable multi-deviceinterface 54 by the multi-device bus 56 for communication with theintelligent I/O expander 50. In an embodiment of the invention, anIridium™ 9602SBD may be connected to the intelligent I/O expander 50.The Iridium™ 9602SBD is a short burst data modem, or transceiver moduledesigned for machine-to-machine solutions for sending and receivingpackets of data. The interface includes a serial data interface, DCpower input, network available output, and power on/off control line. Inthis case, the GeoTab™ configurable multi-device cable 56 has one endand configuration to the configurable multi-device interface 54 and asecond end and configuration to the interface 61, in this example, anIridium™ interface.

The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 and firmware computer program of thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 includes the logic, commands, andprotocol instructions for communicating with the Iridium™ device inorder to send and receive messages (data and information) as well ascontrol of the device. Example non-limiting commands include acquiringthe satellite, authenticating the transceiver, sending messages,receiving messages, exchanging status information, and performing modemcontrol. The firmware has a full and complete set of logic and commandsfor the device. This is an example where the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 is in an active control mode. Initialization of theintelligent I/O expander and the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30associate the intelligent I/O expander 50 with the passive expander modeand the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 with the active controlmode and device type.

Both the Garmin™ and Iridium™ devices are examples of a first type ofdevice that requires serial communication for sending and receivingmessages and device data. The server 19 and Checkmate™ applicationprogram contain the logic and instructions for operating with a Garmin™device. The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 and firmware computerprogram of the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 contain the logicand instructions for operating with the Iridium™ device. For example,the Checkmate™ application program may create and send a command to aGarmin™ device. In this example, the message (including the command inthe data) is provided to the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 thatconverts or reformats the message to the private bus 55. An intelligentI/O expander 50 receives the message, converts or reformats the messageto the multi-device bus 56 where the Garmin™ device receives thecommand. As another example, the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30may create and send a command to an Iridium™ device. In this example amessage (including the command in the data) is provided to the privatebus 55. An intelligent I/O expander 50 receives the message, converts orreformats the message to the multi-device bus 56 where the Iridium™device receives the command.

As another example, the device 62 could be a series of temperaturesensors that include an interface 61 and connected to the configurablemulti-device interface 54 by another multi-device bus 56. This is anexample of a second type of device, or non-serial communication devicewherein the intelligent I/O expander 50 monitors the second type ofdevice. The microprocessor 51 and firmware computer program of theintelligent I/O expander 50 contain the logic and instructions formonitoring and logging data with the auxiliaries. The server 19 andCheckmate™ application program contain the logic and instructions forinterpreting the logged data from the auxiliaries. The Checkmate™application program also contains an identification and mapping of eachauxiliary device interfaced to the configurable multi-device interface54 (Aux 1-4, Aux 5-8).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate the invention may alsoinclude many other specific devices 60 for connection to theconfigurable multi-device interface 54. For example, GeoTab™ specificdevices, 3^(rd) party devices, additional vehicular sensors, cellphones, computers, analog I/O, digital I/O, driver identification, WiFi,900 Mhz Aerocomm, and Bluetooth devices.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the invention is furtherdescribed. In this embodiment, the vehicular telemetry hardware system30 includes a messaging interface 53. The messaging interface 53 isconnected to the DTE telemetry microprocessor 31. In addition, amessaging interface 53 in an intelligent I/O expander 50 may beconnected by the private bus 55. The private bus 55 permits messages tobe sent and received between the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30and the intelligent I/O expander, or a plurality of I/O expanders (seeFIG. 5).

Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternate embodiment of the invention isdescribed. In this embodiment, the vehicular telemetry hardware system30 is connected to the intelligent I/O expander through a gateway 80 onthe vehicle connection 43. The vehicle connection 43 is a CAN busproviding communication between the vehicular telemetry hardware system30 and the resident vehicular portion 42. The gateway 80 passes messagesfrom the resident vehicular portion 42 to the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30, but does not allow messages from the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 to be sent to the resident vehicularportion 42. However, the DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 is connected tothe interface 36, the vehicle connection 43 and the gateway 80. Thegateway monitors the vehicle connection 43 and permits messages to besent from the DTE telemetry microprocessor 31 to the intelligent I/Oexpander over the private bus 55. In addition, the intelligent I/Oexpander may send messages over the private bus 55 to the gateway 80 andthe gateway may pass the messages to the DTE telemetry microprocessor 31by the vehicle connection 43 and the interface 36. The gateway 80 willnot allow messages to be sent from the intelligent I/O expander 50 tothe vehicle network communication bus 37 over the vehicle connection 43.

Referring now to FIG. 5, multiple intelligent I/O expanders may beconnected in a sequence and structure to each other. The private bus 55is common to all intelligent I/O expanders and the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30. In addition, the vehicular telemetry hardware system30 and each intelligent I/O expander 50 have the messaging interface 53.This permits a daisy chain like connection between the components forsending and receiving messages over the private bus 55. In an embodimentof the invention, up to eight intelligent I/O expanders may be connectedto a vehicular telemetry hardware system. In another embodiment of theinvention, up to two of the intelligent I/O expanders may be auxiliaries(AUX 1-4 and AUX 5-8). Optionally, the last intelligent I/O expander inthe series may include a terminator connected to the last messaginginterface 53 for noise suppression.

Method

The DTE telemetry microprocessor 31, firmware computer program, andmemory 35 include the instructions, logic, and control to execute theportions of the method that relate to the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30. The microprocessor 51, firmware computer program, and memory52 include the instructions, logic and control to execute the portionsof the method that relate to the intelligent I/O expander 50.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an initialization method of the intelligent I/Oexpander 50 and the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 is describedwith respect to a first case (serial port type detected). Theinitialization for the intelligent I/O expander 50 is generallyindicated at 90.

The initialization method 90 starts with determining the I/O expanderport type (either serial port type or auxiliaries port type). In anembodiment of the invention, if there is no short between the RX and TXconductors, and there is no short between the CTS and RTS conductors,then the port is determined to be a serial port type. This isaccomplished by the firmware sensing the conductors in the configurablemulti-device interface 54 and checking for shorted conductors. For thiscase, set the port type to serial and set the state or mode to passiveexpander mode. Send a message over the private bus 55 to the vehiculartelemetry hardware system ID with the I/O expander ID and an indicationthat the port type is serial. This message will be received by thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30. This informs the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 that an intelligent I/O expander with aparticular ID number is configured as a serial port type in a passiveexpander mode.

The initialization method for the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30is generally indicated at 91. This initialization method 91 receives amessage from the I/O expander 50 over the private bus 55. The messageincludes an I/O expander ID and an indication to the port type, in thisfirst case a serial port type in a passive expander mode. The vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 sends a message to the I/O expander ID thatwill query the device type connected to the intelligent I/O expander 50.The intelligent I/O expander 50 will convert or reformat the messagereceived on the private bus 55 and pass the message to the device 62over the multi-device bus 56. The device 62 will identify itself andsend back a message to the intelligent I/O expander 50 over themulti-device bus 56. The intelligent I/O expander 50 in turn willconvert or reformat this message and send the message over the privatebus 55. The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 will receive themessage with the I/O expander ID and the device type.

The query of the device type may occur in a number of different ways.For example, if the vehicular telemetry hardwire system is looking todetermine if a Garmin™ device 62 is connected to an intelligent I/Oexpander 50, then the message to the intelligent I/O expander 50 isbased upon the Garmin™ protocol to detect the presence of a Garmin™device. If a Garmin™ device is connected, then the Garmin™ device willsend back a message indicating a Garmin™ device is present. If a Garmin™device is not present, there will not be any message sent back and atime out will occur. Assuming a Garmin™ device is detected, then thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 is set to a passive control mode.The Garmin™ device is an example of a passive control device and personsskilled in the art will appreciate that other types of devices may alsobe included in the passive control mode.

As another example, if the vehicular telemetry hardware system islooking to determine if an Iridium™ device 62 is connected to anintelligent I/O expander 40, then the message is based upon the Iridium™modem protocol to detect the present of an Iridium™ device. If anIridium™ device is connected, the Iridium™ device will send back amessage indicating an Iridium device is present. If an Iridium™ deviceis not present, there will not be any message sent back and a time outwill occur. Assuming an Iridium™ device is detected, and then thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 is set to an active control mode.The Iridium™ device is an example of an active control device andpersons skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of devicesmay also be included in the active control mode.

The method for the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 continuesthrough a list of potential serial devices until the list has beencompleted. The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 may alsoperiodically check for additional intelligent I/O expanders 50 to ensureexpanders later added are identified and configured.

In addition, while the vehicular telemetry hardware system firmware maycontain the necessary instructions, logic and protocol for serialdevices like Garmin™ and Iridium™, additional instructions, logic, andprotocols may be provided to the firmware, or received by the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 in real time by sending from the server 19the associated logic and firmware for storage in the flash memory 35 ofthe vehicular telemetry hardware system 30.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the initialization method of the intelligentI/O expander 50 and the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 isfurther described with respect to a second case. The second caseinitialization for the intelligent I/O expander 50 is generallyindicated at 94.

The initialization method 94 starts with determining the I/O expanderport type (either serial or auxiliaries). In an embodiment of theinvention, if there is a short between the RX and TX conductors, thenaux 1-4 has been detected. In an embodiment of the invention, if thereis a short between the CTS conductor and the RTS conductor, then aux 5-8has been detected. The microprocessor 51 and firmware computer programin the intelligent I/O expander 50 sense the conductors and determine ifthere is a short between conductors. This provides for detecting theconfiguration of the port as either AUX 1-4 or AUX 5-8 to the vehiculartelemetry hardware system ID. For this case, set the port type to aux1-4 or aux 5-8 and set the state or mode to active expander mode. Send amessage over the private bus 55 with the I/O expander ID and indicatethe port type as either aux 1-4 or aux 5-8. This message will bereceived by the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30. This informs thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 that an intelligent I/O expanderwith a particular ID number is configured as an auxiliaries device andAUX 1-4 or AUX 5-8.

The initialization method for the second case of the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 is generally indicated at 95. This initializationmethod 95 receives a message from the I/O expander 50 over the privatebus 55. The message includes an I/O expander ID and an indication to theport type as either aux 1-4 or aux 5-8. Since this is recognized as anactive expander mode, The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 sends amessage to the I/O expander ID that includes monitoring characteristicsfor the intelligent I/O expander 50.

The intelligent I/O expander 50 receives the message from the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 over the private bus 55 and starts theauxiliaries initialization generally indicated at 96. The messageincludes the I/O expander ID and the specific monitoring characteristicsfor the intelligent I/O expander 50. The intelligent I/O expander 50then sets the monitoring characteristics for the auxiliaries connectedto the configurable multi-device interface 54. Monitoringcharacteristics are not limited to but may include thresholds andchanges in values.

The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 and each intelligent I/Oexpander 50 connected to the system complete the initialization methodspreviously described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 to determinewhat devices are connected to what intelligent I/O expanders 50, to setthe I/O expander mode (passive or active), and to set the vehiculartelemetry hardware system mode (active control or passive control), andto associate IDs in the system.

In an embodiment of the invention, there is a cabling technique forconnecting each device 62 and interface 61 to the configurablemulti-device interface 54. For the case with serial devices, theconductors required for serial communication at the configurablemulti-device interface 54 are mapped by a GeoTab™ intelligentconfiguring cable and provided to the interface 61. This may vary fromspecific device 60 to specific device 60. This also provides aninterfacing capability, for example between and intelligent I/O expander50 and a Garmin™ device, or an intelligent I/O expander 50 and anIridium™ device.

In addition, the cabling technique also identifies the port type ofserial or auxiliaries (AUX 1-4, AUX 5-8). For example, if the Geotab™intelligent configuring cable internally shorts the RX and TX conductorsof the serial interface conductors, then AUX 1-4 is established on theAUX conductors. As another example, if the Geotab™ intelligentconfiguring cable internally shorts the CTS and the RTS conductors ofthe serial interface conductors, then an AUX 5-8 is established on theAUX conductors. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that othertechniques may be applied to identify the port type of serial orauxiliaries (AUX 1-4 and AUX 5-8).

The method and operation of the intelligent I/O expander 50 for the caseof a serial port type is now described with reference to FIG. 8.Communication to a device attached to an intelligent I/O expander 50 isgenerally indicated at 92. Communication may either begin at a remotesite (server 19) where a message is sent to the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 that in turn is received by the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30. Alternatively, a message may be generated by thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30. The vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30 may send a message to an intelligent I/O expander 50 with anI/O expander ID and message on the private bus 55 through the messaginginterface 53. The intelligent I/O expander 50 receives the message (ID'smatch) from the messaging interface 53 including the I/O expander ID andmessage. The intelligent I/O expander converts or reformats the messagefor the device associated with the configurable multi-device interface54 and sends the message to the multi-device interface 54. A specificdevice 60 (for example Garmin™ or Iridium™) receives the message throughthe interface 61.

Communication from a specific device 60 connected to an intelligent I/Oexpander 50 is generally indicated at 93. Communication may also beginwith the specific device 60. A specific device 60 may send a message tothe intelligent I/O expander 50 on the multi-device bus 56 and to theconfigurable multi device interface 54. The intelligent I/O expander 50will receive and convert or reformat the message for the messaginginterface 53. The intelligent I/O expander 50 will send the I/O expanderID and message through the messaging interface 53 to the private bus 55.The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 receives the message from themessaging interface 53 with the I/O expander ID and message. Thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 may either log the data from thereceived message, or it may communicate the received message or data toa remote site (server 19) for further processing.

When the microprocessor 51 and firmware computer program convert orreformat messages, it may take several messages and reformatting of themessages. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, messagesreceived over the private bus 55 have a data limitation of up to eightbytes. It may take several messages over the private bus 55 in order toreceive the required data for sending to a specific device 60. In thiscase, messages received over the private bus 55 may be buffered inmemory 52. Then, the data buffered in memory 52 may be reformatted tocreate a message for sending over the multi-device bus 56.Alternatively, messages received over the multi-device bus 56 may bebuffered in memory 52 and subsequently reformatted to create a message,or multiple messages for sending over the private bus 55. The firmwarecomputer program contains the instructions and logic for converting andreformatting messages between the two busses. Alternatively, severalmessages containing partial information may be sent directly if systemspeed permits sending partial information sequentially.

Operation for the case of an auxiliaries port type is now described withreference to FIG. 10. Communicating with an intelligent I/O expander 50is generally indicated at 97. Communication may either begin at a remotesite (server 19) where a message is sent to the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30, which in turn is received by the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30, or a message may be generated by the vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30. The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30may send a message to an I/O expander with an I/O expander ID andmessage on the messaging interface 53. The intelligent I/O expander willreceive the message (ID's match) and set or modify monitoringcharacteristics for the associated auxiliaries. If there are twointelligent I/O expanders 50 configured as auxiliaries, one expanderwould be AUX 1-4 and the other would be AUX 5-8.

Communication from the intelligent I/O expander 50 is generallyindicated at 98. The intelligent I/O expander 50 monitors theauxiliaries through the configurable multi-device interface 54 basedupon the monitoring characteristics. When changes are detected, or abovea threshold, or below a threshold, the data is recorded in memory 52 ofthe intelligent I/O expander 50. The recorded data may be analog data,digital data, or both analog and digital data. The intelligent I/Oexpander may formulate a message and send the I/O expander ID andmessage to the messaging interface 53. The vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30 receives the message (ID's match) over the messaging interface53 and logs the data contained in the message into flash memory 35. Datafrom auxiliaries may be logged as analog, digital, or both analog anddigital values. The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 may alsocommunicate the data to a remote site (server 19).

Operation of the overall system will be explained with an example asillustrated in FIG. 11 where there are three intelligent I/O expandersconnected to the private bus 55 and the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30. The intelligent I/O expanders include a Garmin™ device 60,(Garmin™ interface 61 and type of device 62) an Iridium™ device 70,(Iridium™ interface 71 and type of device 72), and additional vehiclesensors 75 as AUX 1-4 (77) and AUX interface 76. In addition, there is aGeoTab™ intelligent configuring cable 73 between the multi-deviceinterface 54 (50′) and Garmin™ interface 61 cable 63, a GeoTab™intelligent configuring cable 73 between the multi-device interface 54(50″) and Iridium™ interface 71, and a GeoTab™ intelligent configuringcable 73 between multi-device interface 54 (50′″) and auxiliariesinterface 76. The additional vehicle sensors in this example includedrivers side door (open/close), passengers side door (open/close), andcargo door (open/close) (AUX 1, 2, and 3) (AUX 4 is not used).

Under normal operation, the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 andDCE wireless telemetry communications microprocessor 32 communicatemessages over the cellular network 17. This is referred to as theprimary path 100.

If the message 111 originates with the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30, the message 111 would be sent over the cellular network 17,or primary path 100 and received by the server 19 as the message 110. Ifthe message 110 originates with the server 19, the message 110 would besent over the cellular network 19, or primary path 100 and received bythe vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 as message 111.

If for some reason the cellular network 17 is unavailable, then thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 and DTE telemetry microprocessor31 may continue to communicate over the satellite network 13 (assumingand intelligent I/O expander 50 and Iridium™ like satellitecommunications device). This is referred to as a secondary path 101 and102. In this case, an intelligent I/O expander 50″ is interfaced to thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 and initialized and configured asa serial type in an passive expander mode and the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 is initialized in an active control mode with theinstructions and logic for control and operation of the serial device(Iridium™ device 70).

If the message 111 originates with the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30, the message 111 would be sent over the private bus 55 to anintelligent I/O expander 50″ with the Iridium™ device 70. The messagewould be converted or reformatted by the intelligent I/O expander 50 andsent to the Iridium™ device 70 over the multi-device bus 56 and cable73. The Iridium™ device 70 would then provide satellite communications12 and the server 19 would receive the message as 110.

Additionally, a message 110 could be sent by the server 19 and receivedby the Iridium™ device 70 and provided to the intelligent I/O expander50″ through the multi-device bus 56 and cable 73. The intelligent I/Oexpander 50″ would send a converted or reformatted message to thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 over the private bus 55 and themessage would be received as 111.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a further example of an embodiment of theinvention is described. In this example, an intelligent I/O expander 50′is initialized and configured as a serial type in a passive expandermode and the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 is configured in apassive control mode and may convert or reformat the message between theserver 19 and the intelligent I/O expander 50′.

Starting with a message 121 in the server 19 to be sent to a Garmin™device 60. The message 121 may be provided to the vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 by way of either the primary path 100 or thesecondary path 101, 102 as previously described. The vehicular telemetryhardware system 30 receives the message as 122 and converts or reformatsthe message for sending the message over the private bus 55 to theintelligent I/O expander 50′ identified with the Garmin™ device 60. Theintelligent I/O expander 50 receives the message over the privateinterface 53 (50′) and converts or reformats the message by themicroprocessor 51 and memory 52. The message is then sent over themulti-device interface 54 (50′), GeoTab™ intelligent configuring cable56 to the Garmin™ interface 61 where the Garmin™ device receives themessage at 123.

Additionally, a message 123 could be provided to the server 19. Themessage 123 is provided by the Garmin™ device 60 to the Garmin™interface 61, the GeoTabu™ intelligent configuring cable 56, andreceived by the intelligent I/O expander 50 through the multi-deviceinterface 54 (50′). The intelligent I/O expander 50′ converts orreformats the message and provides the message to the private interface53 (50′) and the private bus 55 to the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30. The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 converts orreformats the message 122 and provides the message to the server 19 as121 by way of the primary path 100 or the secondary path 101, 102.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a further example of an embodiment of theinvention is described. In this example, an intelligent I/O expander50′″ is initialized and configured as an auxiliaries type in an activeexpander mode and interfaced by the GeoTab™ intelligent configuringcable 78 to the auxiliaries.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30 may have the monitoring characteristics for the intelligentI/O expander 50′″ as a message 113. The message 113 is provided by thevehicular telemetry hardware system over the private bus 55 to theprivate interface 53 of the intelligent I/O expander 50′″ as 113. Themicroprocessor 51 and memory 52 of the intelligent I/O expander 50′″establish monitoring of the auxiliaries based upon the monitoringcharacteristics in the message 113.

Additionally, the server 19 may provide the monitoring characteristics.A message 112 is provided to the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30by way of the primary path 100 or the secondary path 101, 102. Thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30 will convert or reformat themessage 112 and provide the message to the intelligent I/O expander 50′″over the private bus 55 and private interface 53 of the expander 50′″.The microprocessor 51 and memory 52 of the intelligent I/O expander 50′″establish monitoring of the auxiliaries based upon the monitoringcharacteristics in the message 112.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a further example of an embodiment of theinvention is described. In this example, an intelligent I/O expander50′″ is initialized and configured as an auxiliaries type in the activemode and interface by the GeoTab™ intelligent configuring cable 78 tothe auxiliaries. Furthermore, the intelligent I/O expander 50′″ hasreceived the monitoring characteristics and is monitoring theauxiliaries.

Upon detecting a change or a threshold event, data 114 is captured bythe intelligent I/O expander 50′″ through the cable 78 and multi-deviceinterface 54. The microprocessor 51 and memory 52 of the intelligent I/Oexpander 50′″ create a message 115 containing the data 114. The message115 is provided to the vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 by way ofthe private interface 53 of the intelligent I/O expander 50′″ and theprivate bus 55.

The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 converts or reformats themessage 116 and logs the data. The vehicular telemetry hardware system30 may further provide the data in a message to the server 19 by way ofthe primary path 100 or the secondary path 101, 102. Applicationsoftware on the server 19 receives the message and associated data 114for further analysis. The application software has an associated log tounderstand what types of auxiliaries are associated with AUX 1-4 as wellas AUX 5-8. For example AUX 1 is door (open/close), AUX 2 is passengersside door (open/close), and AUX 3 is cargo door (Open/close).

A final example is described with reference to FIG. 15. The vehiculartelemetry hardware system 30 is monitoring the resident vehicularportion 42 over the vehicle connection 43. Data 118 may be logged by thevehicular telemetry hardware system 30. The vehicular telemetry hardwaresystem 30 may provide the data 118 as a message 119 to the server 19 asmessage 120. The message 119 may be provided to the server by way of theprimary path 100 or the secondary path 101, 102 (if an intelligent I/Oexpander with an Iridium™ like satellite communications device ispresent). The vehicular telemetry hardware system 30 may provide thedata immediately to the server 19 by way of the Iridium™ device upondetecting a significant event such as an accident.

Embodiments of the present invention provide one or more technicaleffects. Intelligent expansion of a vehicular telemetry hardware system.Protocol conversion, converting or reformatting of messages between aprivate bus and a multi-device bus. Configurable intelligent I/Oexpanders 50 as either a serial type or an auxiliaries type. IntelligentI/O expanders configurable to either a passive expander mode or anactive expander mode. A vehicular telemetry hardware system configurablein part for an active control mode or a passive control mode. Logicalrecognition of auxiliary conductors as either AUX 1-4 or AUX 5-8.Monitoring and data logging of auxiliaries. Parallel processing ofauxiliaries connected to an intelligent I/O expander reducing theworkload of the vehicular telemetry hardware system microprocessor.Distributed control logic and machine instructions between a server, avehicular telemetry hardware system, and intelligent I/O expander.

While the present invention has been described with respect to thenon-limiting embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments. Persons skilled in the artunderstand that the disclosed invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope ofthe appended claims. Thus, the present invention should not be limitedby any of the described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of initializing an intelligent I/Oexpander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system, the methodcomprising: determine I/O expander port type, if serial, set serial typeand passive expander mode, if auxiliaries, set auxiliaries type andactive expander mode, communicate said I/O expander port type to saidvehicular telemetry hardware system, if serial, communicate with saidintelligent I/O expander and receive a device type, if said device typeis a first device type, set said vehicular telemetry hardware system toactive serial control mode, if said device type is a second device type,set said vehicular telemetry hardware system to passive serial controlmode, if auxiliaries, communicate monitoring characteristics to saidintelligent I/O expander.
 2. A method of initializing an intelligent I/Oexpander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 1 whereinsaid determine I/O expander port type includes sensing a configurablemulti-device interface.
 3. A method of initializing an intelligent I/Oexpander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 2 whereinsaid sensing a configurable multi-device interface includes sensing apin configuration of said configurable multi-device interface todetermine said I/O expander port type.
 4. A method of initializing anintelligent I/O expander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as inclaim 2 wherein said sensing a configurable multi-device interfaceincludes sensing a configuration of a cable communicating with saidconfigurable multi-device interface.
 5. A method of initializing anintelligent I/O expander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as inclaim 4 wherein said sensing a configurable multi-device interfaceincludes sensing a pin configuration of said cable communicating withsaid configurable multi-device interface.
 6. A method of initializing anintelligent I/O expander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as inclaim 1 wherein said passive expander mode enables at least one ofmessage conversion, message reformatting, or protocol conversion.
 7. Amethod of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehiculartelemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein said active expandermode enables a capability to monitor a configurable multi-deviceinterface.
 8. A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and avehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 7 wherein saidcapability to monitor is based upon said monitoring characteristics. 9.A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehiculartelemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein initializing enablessaid vehicular telemetry hardware system and said first device type tocooperate.
 10. A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander anda vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein initializingenables said vehicular telemetry hardware system and said first devicetype for communication.
 11. A method of initializing an intelligent I/Oexpander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 1 whereininitializing enables a remote system and said second device type tocooperate.
 12. A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander anda vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein initializingenables a remote system and said second device type for communication.13. A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehiculartelemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein said active serialcontrol mode enables communication between said vehicular telemetryhardware system and said first device type.
 14. A method of initializingan intelligent I/O expander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system asin claim 13 wherein said first device type is a communications device.15. A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehiculartelemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein said passive serialcontrol mode enables communication between a remote system and saidsecond device type.
 16. A method of initializing an intelligent I/Oexpander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 15wherein said second device type is a GPS device.
 17. A method ofinitializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehicular telemetryhardware system as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliaries type includessaid monitoring characteristics associated with at least one auxiliarydevice.
 18. A method of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and avehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein saidauxiliaries type includes a capability for at least one group of fourauxiliaries associated with said monitoring characteristics.
 19. Amethod of initializing an intelligent I/O expander and a vehiculartelemetry hardware system as in claim 1 wherein said monitoringcharacteristics includes at least one of threshold, limit, change invalue or range in value.
 20. A method of initializing an intelligent I/Oexpander and a vehicular telemetry hardware system as in claim 1 whereinsaid monitoring characteristics may be re-initialized or modified duringoperation of said intelligent I/O expander.